AN estimated crowd of well over 300 people, many unable to get inside, assembled at Crib Point Primary School last Wednesday (10 June) for a community consultation over the government’s plan to sell off land at HMAS Cerberus.
In February, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced HMAS Cerberus would be “partially divested” as part of a massive sale of 35,000 hectares of defence real estate – including some of the nation’s most historic barracks – that is expected to raise almost $2b (HMAS Cerberus to be ‘partially divested’ in defence land sell-off The Times 10/2/26).
At the time it was stated that 1164 hectares of the 1500 hectares that make up HMAS Cerberus were marked for divestment.
The community consultation was attended by shire councillors David Gill, Kate Roper and Michael Stephens.
The assembled crowd appeared unanimous in their opposition to the proposed sale and a show of hands confirmed the lack of local support for the commercial sale, subdivision, or development of the land.
The government representative gave a “two plus” year timeframe for the divestment process and said whatever happens, all environmental regulations would be met.
“It is worth noting that the speaker emphasised that divestment doesn’t necessarily mean the land will be sold, it could be transferred between government departments, or levels of government,” said secretary of Save Westernport, Julia Stockigt.
“The organisers said they hope to make use of available local knowledge in planning the divestment, and directed people to the Department of Finance website (under ‘Delivering the Future Estate’), where we were encouraged to use the Feedback and Future Use form to make public submissions on how we’d like to see the land at Cerberus used.”
Save Westernport have expressed their opposition to the planned divestment.
“People are alarmed by the Defence Department’s claims that the purpose of the sale of Defence Department property Australia-wide, is to raise funds to meet the exorbitant expense of the government’s AUKUS obligations,” said Stockigt
“We’re also unconvinced by Defence Department claims that selling off large parts of HMAS Cerberus will help provide much-needed afford-able housing opportunities on the Mornington Peninsula.
“In the hands of developers, the land in question (at Sandy Point) would be out of reach to anyone but the most affluent among us, benefiting only those capable of purchasing ocean-front property to build their second or third holiday home or investment property.”
First published in the Mornington News- 16 June 2026
